I try to attend my local astrology group, just so that I can get the sense of feeling slightly ‘normal’ about my interest in astrology! We were reviewing celebrities’ charts and their Part of Fortune. I’m not very practiced at looking at other people’s charts, but one leapt out at me. It screamed POWER at me… I present you with Bruce Lee.

The man has a stellium of four personal planets in Scorpio, opposite Jupiter and Saturn in Taurus, T-square Pluto in its own house, the 8th. That’s one hell of a Plutonian expressed through the strong outward persona of Sun conjunct Ascendant in Sagittarius. Add the absence of planets in Air and you’ve got one serious man. Phew.

He used all that depth, with fixed energy, to make massive demands upon his body. His training schedule was demanding and intense to say the least. Expansive Jupiter combined with Saturn’s structure provided self-control and an outlet for Pluto and his Sun?

It sounds like he also had a habit of street fighting. I imagine it must have been a continual battle to keep reigns on himself. There were also rumours of association with the Triads. Involvement with the underworld is easy to justify with a chart like that; whether he chose to take that path is another matter. Plus a sudden, early and somewhat mysterious death…

When two planets are situated in opposition, a balancing act is required between two modes of expression. There can be a feeling of see-sawing between two responses. How severe this feels depends upon the planets in opposition. For example, an opposition between Jupiter and Mercury might not be obvious because the energies are so similar. An opposition between Mars and Venus would be harder to integrate – action pulling at loving acceptance.

I have an opposition between Mercury and the Moon. My head and my heart do battle and indecision is the usual result. I can see the benefits of feeding both my rational self and following the inner voice. Unfortunately, in my case, Mercury is a fatty and my see-saw is weighed down at one end. The habit of stuffing my emotions down deep, deep, deep has been ingrained in me for a very long time.

There will always be repercussions from not working with the balancing act. The metaphorical dam that controlled my emotions eventually burst and I was swallowed whole without having any understanding of how to accomplish release. It wasn’t pleasant; I felt lost and alone in a stormy ocean. Since then I’ve discovered that my delightful Scorpio Ascendant is very very good at providing a glassy facade to the entire world; no-one has a clue what I’m thinking or feeling! So now I try to conciously open my mouth and say when I feel happy or sad, angry or frustrated. My poor Moon has to climb Mercury’s slippery ladder. It’s tough. It’s uncomfortable. I would rather have a mind reader.

But when that balancing act is achieved, it feels so blissful. That’s what happened when I wrote about Pluto and Neptune; both the Moon and Mercury got their chance to shine together. It felt so good!

Actually, it’s not strictly true that Saturn is a big influence in my chart. Kinda hard to believe from my posts huh? Sure, he’s at the apex of T-square, but I’ve got another two kicking around. In fact, I’m Plutonian. It’s the dark one at the edge of our Universe that rules me; Pluto’s the one that appears again and again in my chart.

The thing is, I feel really Saturnian. I believe that it’s a Mercury issue. I have a very earthy Mercury, all Taurus, Capricorn and Saturn. My quicksilver is a little muddy! Because my Gemini Sun is really all about living through the mind, my expression, logic and thought filters through oh-so-sensible-Saturn. I think like a Capricorn, therefore I am. Well, that’s my conclusion anyway.

I suspect I frighten my friends with my scarily organised, practical self. You wouldn’t believe how much stuff I can get done! Except when I get swallowed whole by the internet; it’s a tiny distraction…

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Hmmmm Venus is also in Gemini, in mutual reception with Mercury. There’s a similar Saturnian pattern there too.

There is a river. Its banks are gentle and welcoming, a sandy beach leads you to the water. The surface of the river is calm; light reflects. Ripples wink as they catch the sun, leaves swirl gently in the current.

However, the river is deep and wide. Beneath that beguiling surface, powerful currents churn. They are capable of grasping you, unexpectedly, taking you into their watery embrace. You then become one with the flow; you have no beginning nor end. You are led inexorably onwards along the river’s journey, destination unknown.

Some look at the river and avert their gaze; apparently there is nothing to catch their attention. Others dip in a toe, testing the water as they know that there is more than meets the eye. Then there are those that jump in, letting the water envelop them; they have no choice but to join the journey.

This is my Pluto. Outwardly I am ruled by Saturn and Uranus. Beneath the cool, calm facade of a Scorpio Ascendant, Pluto flows. There are layers of complexity and power, there are secrets. The Scorpio eyes are the window to my soul, if you care to look.

I’ve just come across Sabian symbols. In 1925 every degree of the Zodiac was given an image by clairvoyant Elsie Wheeler. I read somewhere that it can be used to test whether your Ascendant is correct. I’m Scorpio 11. …

Donna Cunningham’s post about Mercury-Saturn aspects has got me contemplating kiddies with a strong Saturn signature. Saturn and youth don’t sit well together; the planet of patience, perseverance and authority drapes childhood with the cloth of Grandfather Time. There’s a sense that children’s bright light and spontaneity is covered in cobwebs. Responsibility arrives far too early.

I can hear the parents now, saying ‘Oh Lucy is so mature and well-behaved. So sincere. We couldn’t have asked for an easier child’. The child lives slightly in the shadows, never needing or demanding attention, slipping under the notice of parents and teachers. The word I’m looking for is sombre.

There are advantages though, Saturnian people grow and blossom as they age. They need not fear the Saturn Return that occurs every 29 years; it can bring a bucket of self-confidence. After all, you’ve looked after Saturn, he looks after you.

The problem is, I beat myself up with a Saturn-shaped stick. I can’t small talk with strangers. I struggle to be spontaneous, take life as it comes. I’m ever-so responsible and play by the rules. Living is a serious thing. Perhaps it’s my mercurial Gemini Sun that thinks I’m a heavy rock, or it’s the square to Uranus that wants change, invention and upset? Or this is just the prose of a self-critical Saturn in Leo.

There’s no two ways about it, a strong Saturn signature is a hard taskmaster. But he is an achiever, and dreams can be grasped. We cannot remain downtrodden; our climb continues regardless of the knocks we receive. Saturnians are fine wines, we mature beautifully!